The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
It's one and the same, one and the same oh
So what's the use between death and glory?
I can't tell between death and glory
Happy endings, no, they never bored me
Happy endings, they still don't bore me
But they, they have a way
A way to make you pay
And to make you toe the line
No, I sever my ties
Because I'm so clever
But clever ain't wise
Fuck forever
If you don't mind
Oh fuck forever?
If you don't mind, don't mind, I don't mind, I don't mind
Oh what's the use between death and glory?
I can't tell between death and glory
New labour and Tory
Purgatory and no happy families
One and the same, one and the same
No, it's not the same
It's not supposed to be the same
You know about that way
The way they make you pay
And the way they make you toe the line
I've severed my ties
Oh, you're so clever, you're so clever
But you're not very nice
So fuck forever
If you don't mind
Oh I'm stuck forever
In your mind, your mind, your mind
Go ahead and know about that way
To make you feel like shit and make you pay
And to make you toe the line, line
I sever my tie
Oh and I'll never
Sever the ties
And fuck forever
If you don't mind
See I'm stuck forever
Oh I'm stuck in your mind, your mind, your mind, your mind
They'll never played this on the radio
Oh they'll never play this on the radio
So what's the use between death and glory?
I can't tell between death and glory
Happy endings, no, they never bored me
Happy endings, they still don't bore me
But they, they have a way
A way to make you pay
And to make you toe the line
No, I sever my ties
Because I'm so clever
But clever ain't wise
Fuck forever
If you don't mind
Oh fuck forever?
If you don't mind, don't mind, I don't mind, I don't mind
Oh what's the use between death and glory?
I can't tell between death and glory
New labour and Tory
Purgatory and no happy families
One and the same, one and the same
No, it's not the same
It's not supposed to be the same
You know about that way
The way they make you pay
And the way they make you toe the line
I've severed my ties
Oh, you're so clever, you're so clever
But you're not very nice
So fuck forever
If you don't mind
Oh I'm stuck forever
In your mind, your mind, your mind
Go ahead and know about that way
To make you feel like shit and make you pay
And to make you toe the line, line
I sever my tie
Oh and I'll never
Sever the ties
And fuck forever
If you don't mind
See I'm stuck forever
Oh I'm stuck in your mind, your mind, your mind, your mind
They'll never played this on the radio
Oh they'll never play this on the radio
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Blue
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“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
No one else mentioned this, so I'm not sure it's significant: the "death and glory" line in the first verse. Mick Jones did produce this album, as well as both of The Libertines' albums, so this maybe an homage of some sort. Or it may be a nice coincidence.